Iron County register., 1887-10-20

time = c0nue1s o. reteufion u many ofzciala
and emplcyes whose servicss might otnerwtss
be dispensed with
There is no reason to believe fhss the us-
publican party would maket or astempt -
make, any substantial reducticn of sxpsndx-
tures, or give fts support 70 this necessary re-
form in the public service. Is could not %
either without repudiating its past policy and
undoing its own work.
II we look beyond the ordinary outlay for
the general course Of the two parties IN roiA-
tfon to the appropriation and expenditure of
the public money for other purposes, the dif-
ference between them is il possible, stiH more
important In the matter cf pensions espe~
ciaIly, the Republican party, IN and out Of Con-
gress, has thoroughly committed itself 70 .
policy which, If carried out. would bankrupt the
country, or, as the very least subject the peo-
pie to q burden Of taxation that would seriously
cripple and smbarrass Al their indus
that Governments Ike ours. which
maintains no largo standing army, should
grant liberal pensions to its wounded and dis
abled soldiers and sailors, and to the widows
and dependent relatives Of those who have died,
the rights and interests OF the great body OF tho
people, who pay the taxes carry ON the indus
tries and develop the resources of the country,
should not be entirely disregarded. Already
the United States are expending annually, on
account OF military and naval pensions. more
than is paid by all the other Governments in
the world combined, aud as time passes ana
conditions change-as old age and disease over
take the survivors OF the late war, and the
wealth of the country increases-the benefits OF
the law win be extended and the allowances
augmented, until finally all who can show
reasonable term OF service and an honorable
discharge will receive the generous aid Of the
Government. This policy is not only right In
ITSELF but Il accords with the past course OF the
Government toward the soldiers of other wars,
and no public man OF either party should OPP
pose 1t. But there Is q limit to the tax-paying
power OF the people, and the real friend Of the
soldier-not the mere politician who IL seeking
votes at the expense OF the public
treasury, but the responsible legislator,
who foresees the consequences OF his
action, and wants Justice done to all classes
VIII proceed slowly and cautiously In . matter
involving such vital interests. The Republican
party Is in no proper condition to control legis-
1ation upon this subject. II can not halt with
out violating its pledges to the soldiers, and It
can not proceed without doing an irreparable
wrong TO the taxpayers.
The Democratic party has always been the
friend Of the navy and the merchant marine,
and so long as 1t remained In power the Ameri-
can Gag was displayed ON every sea and in
every commercial port. Seventy i've years ago
when the Republic was In its infancy. our ships
OF war won imperishable renown in the conflict
with Great Britain. the boasted mistress Of the
seas. and up to the beginning of the late civil
war more than threc-fourths of our foreign COM
commerce was carried in our own vessels
Now, after twenty-four hours Of Republican
domination. we have no naval establishment
worthy OF the name, and scarcely more than
one-seventh part Of our foreign carrying trade
Is done by American ships. II the
mere appropriation and expenditure OF money
had been all that was necessary, the Republic
an party as thoroughly demonstrated its quail
iicat ion for the task, but unfortunately all its
efforts to secure q navy without either building
or buying Vessels have signally failed. Nor
was it any more successful in its attempts to
increase foreign commerce and revive the car
rying trade by paying subsidies and bounties
out of the treasury The paralyzing influences
Of barbarous navigation laws can not be oovi-
ated by such artificial stimulants.
Free ships and liberal laws for the regulation
Of trade, instead Of restricting legislation and
unfriendly taxation, would do more in few
years to restore our merchant marine and tn
crease our commerce with South America and
other parts of the world, than was accom-
plished during all the time the Republican
party had charge of the Government. Com
merciai treaties, while they may be desirable
under peculiar circumstances, are generally
more favorable to one party than the other,
and are therefore frequently unjust Besides,
they grant exclusive privileges and make
improper and often sive determinations
against other friendly nations, thus pro-
voking q spirit of retaliation upon their
Pofs "AAiSA AAoy SiSosAS hAJuAS eho inscAS ASSso VI
our citizens abroad As q general rule, . great
power like the United States should always re-
tain absolute control over its own affairs, and
not embarrass itself by commercial or other
alliances with foreign Governments. We have
it in our own power, without bargaining or con-
sulting with any other nation, to adopt policy
which will insure domestic tranquility, extend
our commerce. create new and profitable mar.
kets for our products, revive our ship-building
and ship-owntng interests, and infuse new lilo
and energy into every department OF industry.
It is the Democratic policy Of low taxnfiou,
economy in the administration Of public affairs,
non-interference with the private business OF
the people, equal regard for the reserved rights
OF the States and the constitutional authority OF
the Federal Government protection to the citi.
zen at home and abroad, and just and equal
laws for tbs promotion and encouragement Of
every honest industry and every species OF
lawful commerce.